Keep the fire going.

"I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you ..." 2 Tim. 1:6

It is cold here on the Delmarva Peninsula today. I have a fire in the wood furnace, to save oil, and to heat the house better. But, no matter how much wood I put in the firebox, in a matter of hours, I have to go put more in, and stir it around. A fire needs constant attention.

Our spiritual life is like a fire. It needs constant attention. The fire is always going down, no matter who who are. It is human nature. The best Christians I know, suffer periods of coolness, and low embers. After years of living in an assembly life, we see some who cool down and need more wood, some who lose the fire completely. It's a sad thing to see the fire go out in some.

We need to stir up the gift of God. We are trying that in our assembly starting this morning. Not that we can do anything, but this is what Paul told Timothy. Stir it up. What does that mean? God leaves many of the details out, so that we don't get dependent on programs and plans. Stir it up. The gift of God. In you.

For us, it is Christ in you, the hope of Glory. Is it more specific? Yes, it might be. But if the reality of the Life of Christ in you really hits us, we would have it.

Stir it up.